[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-exiled-duke-s-lottery-system":3,"chapter-the-exiled-duke-s-lottery-system-the-exiled-duke-s-lottery-system-chapter-99":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","The Exiled Duke's Lottery system",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1366807,1809,"Chapter 99 - 92: Kassian’s Fury","the-exiled-duke-s-lottery-system-chapter-99",99,"\u003Cp>The meeting chamber of House Valcriox had never felt so tense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rain hammered against the tall manor windows while nobles sat in heavy silence around the circular strategy table beneath dim lantern light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No servants remained inside. No guards spoke. Even the air itself felt strained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because the latest reports from the north had arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And they were disastrous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The western frontier escalation. The artillery standoff. The dragon’s appearance. The failed assassination attempt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every page worsened the situation further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then the chamber doors opened violently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kassian Valcriox entered like a storm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The heir of House Valcriox rarely displayed emotion publicly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His fury was obvious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several sealed reports slammed across the strategy table hard enough to scatter documents everywhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You idiots.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Absolute silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The nobles around the chamber exchanged uneasy looks while Kassian stared at them with visible disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lord Berengar finally spoke carefully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Kassian—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ducal heir cut him off immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No explanations.\" \"No excuses.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His hand struck the table sharply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You nearly started a war.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chamber grew colder instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because this was not political disagreement anymore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was rage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Real rage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kassian paced slowly around the strategy table afterward while rain echoed beyond the manor walls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You pushed military pressure without coordination.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One noble frowned defensively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Elarion needed to understand authority.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kassian stopped walking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then slowly turned toward him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Authority?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The word sounded almost mocking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You deployed troops near an industrial convoy.\" \"You attempted seizure.\" \"You forced rifle regiments into mobilization.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice lowered dangerously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And Lucien prepared artillery.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nobody answered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because every military report confirmed the same horrifying truth:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucien had genuinely been prepared to open fire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not bluff. Not panic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>War.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One older noble finally muttered quietly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We still held superior numbers.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kassian laughed once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Coldly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And then what?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes swept across the chamber.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Did any of you actually think beyond the first battle?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because honestly—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many of them hadn’t.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They expected pressure. Intimidation. Submission.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not organized military resistance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kassian pointed sharply toward the frontier reports.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You saw what happened.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice hardened further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thousands of disciplined riflemen mobilized within hours.\" \"Field cannons deployed into firing positions.\" \"Supply lines already organized.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And a dragon descended over the battlefield.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That last part settled heavily over the chamber.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because Aurethar’s involvement terrified everyone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not merely because of power—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But because the dragon clearly sided with Elarion now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Personally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One military advisor finally spoke carefully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The assassination attempt also failed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kassian closed his eyes briefly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if physically pained by the stupidity surrounding him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes.\" \"I noticed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chamber remained deathly quiet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because the failed assassination changed everything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pressure could still be denied politically.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Assassination could not.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially not after:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>infiltrators entered Elarion,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>alarm systems activated instantly,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>and Aurethar personally hunted them down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now Lucien would never believe peace remained possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that was the real disaster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kassian finally stopped beside the northern campaign maps hanging along the chamber wall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His gaze remained fixed on Elarion territory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You all still misunderstand the situation.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nobody interrupted him now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because unlike the others—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kassian had been studying Lucien carefully for months.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The industrial reports. The military reports. The logistics reports.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Patterns.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was what concerned him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucien adapted too quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Economic pressure created industrial expansion. Military pressure created mobilization. Assassination created unity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every hostile action against Elarion strengthened it somehow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kassian slowly pointed toward the northern regions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you know what frightens me most?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No answer came.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He learns.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The room remained silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kassian continued calmly now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Most nobles react emotionally.\" \"They defend traditions.\" \"They repeat old strategies.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes narrowed slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Lucien changes strategy every time pressure appears.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That made him dangerous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Far more dangerous than emotional rulers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because emotional rulers made mistakes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Systems did not.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One younger noble still tried to argue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If we wait longer, Elarion becomes impossible to suppress.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kassian turned toward him immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And whose fault is that?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No response.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because everyone in the room already knew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>House Valcriox spent too long treating Lucien as:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>an exile,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>a northern nuisance,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>a temporary problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now Elarion possessed:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>steel production,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>industrial infrastructure,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>artillery,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>organized rifle armies,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>and growing civilian loyalty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The balance had shifted already.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And some nobles still refused to accept it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lord Berengar finally folded his arms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So what?\" \"We simply allow him to continue growing?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kassian’s expression hardened instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then after a pause:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But we stop forcing conflict before we are prepared.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That line unsettled several nobles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because it implied something dangerous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kassian did not oppose eventual war completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He opposed premature war.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huge difference.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One advisor carefully asked:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then what do you propose?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kassian looked once more toward the northern maps silently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then answered:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We prepare properly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chamber quieted further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No more reckless escalations.\" \"No more independent operations.\" \"No more amateur assassination attempts.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His gaze sharpened coldly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Because every failed move only teaches Lucien more about us.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That truth hit uncomfortably hard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because again—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was correct.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The standoff taught Lucien the south feared Elarion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The assassination taught him certain nobles wanted him dead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every escalation revealed information.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Lucien was intelligent enough to use it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rain continued falling heavily outside the manor while tension lingered across the strategy chamber.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kassian finally gathered the frontier reports together slowly before speaking one final time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You wanted to intimidate Elarion.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice became quieter now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More controlled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More dangerous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Instead...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes moved across the nobles surrounding the table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...you convinced Lucien that war is inevitable.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nobody answered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because deep down—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They feared he might already be right.\u003C\u002Fp>",921,"2026-06-05T21:32:57.730Z",1,"novelbin.me","2339bd98dad37a2974efaaeaca1ce5918d1d672382eb41ebf04cbe87f425979d","the-exiled-duke-s-lottery-system-chapter-100","the-exiled-duke-s-lottery-system-chapter-98",144,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-exiled-duke-s-lottery-system-cover.jpg"]